Moeldoko Encourages Communities To War The Placement Of Non-Procedural PMIs

Presidential Chief of Staff Dr. Moeldoko received the arrival of the Indonesian Migrant Workers Care Task Force (P2MI Task Force) Projo, at the Bina Graha building, Jakarta, Monday, September 26. (KSP Photo)

JAKARTA - Presidential Chief of Staff Dr. Moeldoko received the arrival of the Indonesian Migrant Workers Care Task Force (P2MI Task Force) Projo, at the Bina Graha Jakarta building, Monday, September 26. During the meeting, the P2MI Task Force explained a number of findings related to the non-procedural departure of Indonesian Migrant Workers (PMI).

The head of the Projo P2MI Task Force, Sinal Blegur, said that the practice of departing non-procedural PMIs is a very serious problem, where the state must be present and provide protection for its citizens. Moreover, he continued, from year to year the number of non-procedural PMI departure cases has increased, and the majority of departure destinations are countries in the middle east, such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

"This happened because of a high demand to look for better job opportunities abroad," said Sinal.

To the Presidential Chief of Staff Dr. Moeldoko, Sinal Blegur claimed, the P2MI Projo Task Force had played a role in preventing non-procedural PMI departures. He gave an example, on September 2, 2022, the Projo P2MI Task Force together with the Cileungsi Police succeeded in preventing the departure of 7 PMI Candidates who would be dispatched to the middle east non-procedurally.

"We are also involved in the repatriation of non-procedural PMIs who are affected by problems in employment countries," said Sinal.

Responding to this, Presidential Chief of Staff Dr. Moeldoko expressed his appreciation for the role of the Projo P2MI Task Force. This, he said, was in line with the government's commitment to seriously combat the placement of non-procedural PMIs. He also encouraged other elements of society to also play a role in providing protection to PMIs.

The involvement of elements of society in fighting the placement of non-procedural PMIs is very much needed. The government cannot work alone and needs the support of all elements of society to provide protection to PMIs," said Moeldoko.

The 2013-2015 TNI Commander emphasized that the Presidential Staff Office together with related ministries/agencies have worked hard to prevent and suppress the placement of non-procedural PMIs. Among them, doing the cutting of PMI departure procedures and placement, which so far have been considered complicated for a long time, and hampered.

In addition, he continued, the Presidential Staff Office team has also reviewed regulations regarding the development of PMI placements. Where, in Law No. 18/2017 and its derivative rules, namely the Regulation of the Indonesian Migrant Workers Protection Agency (Perban) No. 9/2020, the government has exempted the cost of placing PMIs, including the cost of training charged to local governments. However, the implementation of these regulations has not yet been implemented optimally, due to limited allocation of funds from local governments.

Indeed we are facing a dilemma. On the one hand, we have a law for exemption from costs, but on the other hand the local government cannot implement it. This condition is stagnant. For that, at this time we (Presidential Staff Office) encourage the allocation of training development for PMI Candidates in the central government to be enlarged," he explained.

As for the relationship with the moratorium on the placement of PMIs in several destination countries, such as Saudi Arabia and several countries in the middle east, said Moeldoko, the government is currently conducting diplomacy and encouraging the implementation of regional-based PMI placement. So that later the placement of PMI can be accelerated.

We have to close all gaps in the placement of non-procedural PMIs. Do not let PMI's great desire to go to work abroad be carried out by ignoring procedures, and unfortunately there are others who accommodate it," concluded Moeldoko.